[Leica] FS Leica and Bessa R2 Cameras and Lenses

[mak at teleport.com (Mark Kronquist)]

The Bessas were breeding. As much as I like the very uncommon Olive  
Green Bessa R2 Bodies I now have three of them...which is one to  
many. The one I am selling works perfectly and has a very early  
serial number xxxx8xx.  Cosmetics... it shows very minor wear.  $350  
Remember the R2 has the M mount (R and L were SM) and is built like a  
tank. Here is what a blogger at photography review wrote

Price Paid:  $600.00 from CameraQuest.com

Summary:

I have owned this camera for several months and it has been a dream  
to use. First, it can't compare to Leica - How could it, it cost  
about 1/3 of what they go for. Ya can't compare a Porsche with a  
Honda. Anyway, it is one well built machine for the price. No  
problems so far and I'm hard on a camera...it has been on some  
journeys where more plastic cameras around this price would not have  
made it back. It is easy to focus and works well with  
streetphotography. The meter seems to be accurate and I have produce  
some excellent negs. This is highly recommended for the beginner who  
wants a camera that will help them learn the basics of photography.  
You will find that it is a trustworthy camera that will never leave  
you high and dry (even if the batteries go out). Also, I believe with  
the limited production of this camera you'll have a collectors item  
on hand, but go for the olive :)


Strengths:

Built like a tank. Great for streetphotography. Affordable and has  
killer lenses...just a good a Leica without the $$$.


Weaknesses:

Loud ss compared to a Leica or any old school rangefinder.


CV LSM LTM 35mm f1.7 Ultron CameraQuest and others say this is one of  
the sharpest Leica mount lenses ever made. I believe it. Again I have  
two. This chrome one is the one for sale. CQ asks $399 for theirs  
(new). This is almost new EX+ cosmetics and perfect glass $399. Note  
this lens has been discontinued and is very hard to find.


again a blogger's feelings

Summary:

i have started to use the voigtlander system more then half year.  
amaizing how good is this system when u think about the price u pay  
for it. at the biggining i had 25, 50 and 90 lenses on r2 body. they  
are all amazing (u can read the reviews i have posted). at some point  
i felt that i sometimes wanted a wider lense both for more dramatic  
perspective outdoors and for more surounding indoors, but without too  
much wide angle effect as in case of 25mm lenses. i bought the  
ultron. afater a week of use i really started to use it intelegently  
as i wanted it for. a really refreshing lenses for me that in many  
cases i consider it as normal. now the optical quality of this lense.  
-- outstanding. at f2.8 it is towards the top perfomens, at f5.6 it  
is simply outstanding, only lieca is better. from the 2.8 the  
contrast is great over the most of the field. no distortions and all  
the negative effects. it is very importent since i do not use this  
lense to centralize the main object of interest in the frame. it is  
very dynamic lense in its perspective and the dynamic framing is the  
main point of the use of this lense, so the equevalance of the whole  
field perfomance is very importent when u want to place an object of  
interest not in the centre. also, since the 35mm has a greater depth  
of field than 50mm, u can move the focused object without loosing the  
focus. close up perfomence is outstanding as well from the f4. a  
great lense both in terms of usefullnes and in terms of the  
outstanding optical quality.


Strengths:

supperb optical quality. i consider it as a dynamic 'normal' lense  
especially in close destance range.


Weaknesses:

not leica, but a great price.


Your choice I am going to keep one and sell the other either one $275  
for either one


90mm M Rokkor this is the later improved version of CLE Vintage  
couples perfectly with M andBessa cameras. Glass perfect cosmetics EX  
has caps hood and case

OR

90mm Bessa APO Lanthar f.4 EX cosmetics perfect glass Leica SM.

And last but not least



Leica IIIa Camera Body great user speeds fine RF VF fine, Have two  
need only one $225


Thanks


Mark